1960s NESTLE'S QUIK COMMERCIAL - Jimmy Nelson, Danny O' Day and Farfel

Context & Trivia

Danny O'Day and Farfel were both built by Frank Marshall, the Chicago puppet maker who also designed the characters. Farfel was originally a hard figure hand-carved from linden wood and covered in fur, operated with a head stick — the same manipulation technique used for Danny O'Day. Jimmy Nelson conceived the character in 1950 after spotting a stuffed dog sitting on a piano, giving it a deep, comedic voice that became its defining trait.

The Nestlé's Quik campaign with Nelson, Danny, and Farfel aired from 1955 to 1965, producing more than 120 commercials built around different comic scenarios, including this boxing ring setting. Farfel's jaw snap at the end of the jingle was entirely unplanned: it happened during Nelson's audition when sweaty hands caused his finger to slip off the puppet's mouth control. Nestlé executives loved the accidental effect and insisted Nelson keep it — it became the single most recognizable signature of the entire campaign.

In commercials where the puppets appeared physically separate from Nelson, puppeteer Ray Austin assisted with the manipulation while Nelson performed every voice himself. An original Farfel puppet is on display at the Chocolate Experience Museum in Burlington, Wisconsin.